Speaking of using the bible to prove things. This reminds me of a conversation I had with a co-worker last week. She's a pretty cool lady (must be 60 or so), but I know she was raised religious and just "believes". I don't think she has any idea that I'm an atheist. Here is how it went:
We were discussing time travel theories (Sci Fi stuff) and then she started talking about alternate realities. And then she said, "You know I do think there are alternate realities. Because in the bible, in Ezekial (can't remember if that is the book she said) it said he saw visions of 1000 warriors on the horizon (or some crap like that, can't remember the specifics)."

I promptly changed topic by saying, "Lawyers? Oh, I thought you said lawyers! Haha!"

(01-06-2016 07:31 AM)SkepticalDaniel Wrote: Any time I ask a theist how the know the Bible is God's direct word, the responses usually vary. One answer which I do see sometimes is this:

Quote:"Humans aren't capable of writing the Bible. It says in Jeremiah that the heart is decietful, and it says also in Romans chapter 8 that man is naturally at enminty with God."

That is simply more circular bullshit. Quoting a holy book to prove a holy book is all it is and all religions pull this. It is garbage circular reasoning.

Humans did write the bible otherwise it wouldn't exist. It was written by delusional people sure, but to claim it was written by a God and not humans makes this character an either cruel or inept prick or he doesn't exist.

If you owned a bicycle factory would you higher a line boss who stuck several different assemble manuals with tons of revised versions and different labels, and said "You guys separate into different worker unions, fight over how to assemble the bicycles and murder each other".

The book IS a self deception but not because humans are flawed in their interpretations, but because the holy book itself is a mere reflection of the desires of the people that wrote them. Not because a real god exists.

This kind of argument reminds me of theists who say "We can't understand God, his ways are so much more complex than our ways, like the way we must seem to ants..."
and I also ask "Well if you can't understand God how do you know he loves us? Wants us to be happy? or wants anything or doesn't want other things, if you can't even understand his intentions or needs and you actually believe in him then how will I understand it?"

Also the Bible was definitely a work of flawed men, the way it contradicts itself and reality is proof enough.